Self-propelling barge



Sept. 6, 1966 J, MULLER SELF-PROPELLING BARGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 00",. 9, 1964 IN VENTOR. J40 outs MOLLIr/i' BY @w 612M r M A t/orneys Sept. 6, 1966 J. MULLER SELF-PROPELLING BARGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, L964 INVENTOR. c/IC floss Hullfl BY A flomeys United States Patent 3,270,706 SELF-PROPELLING BARGE Jacques Muller, La Garenne-(Iolombes, France, assignor to Rellumit, Inter, S.a.r.L., La Garenne-Colombes, France, a corporation of France Filed Oct. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 402,896

Claims priority, application France,0ct. 18, 1963,

951,002 1 Claim. (Cl. l1535) This invention relates to the art of water transport and more particularly to a self-propelling barge.

As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it is noted that where it is desired to provide a floating platform or barge which may carry equipment for cleaning boats or for removing waste products such as paper, leaves, straw and the like floating on the surface of a body of water or for removing oil floating on such surface, it is necessary that the barge be capable of movement in all directions without need for turning of the barge so that both shores of a narrow stream or channel as. well as small inlets are readily accessible. In addition, in order that the barge may be moved in close proximity to the shore, it must have a relatively shallow draft.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a self-propelled barge that may readily be fabricated at relatively low cost, that may readily be maneuvered in all directions without need for turning of the barge and which has a relatively shallow draft and is capable of supporting heavy loads.

According to the invention these objects are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible combinations of the several features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-propelled barge having mounted thereon equipment for cleaning debris from the surface of a body of water.

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the barge shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the floats and driving means for the barge, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an anchor for the barge.

Referring now to the drawings, the self-propelling barge comprises :a platform 1 which illustratively is rectangular in shape and preferably is square as shown. The platform 1 preferably comprises two layers 1a and 1b, the upper layer defining the deck of the barge, the two layers have interposed rigid steel beams to form a strong rigid assembly.

Mounted on each corner of the platform is a suitable bumper 2 which enables the barge to be moved adjacent a deck or boat without damage.

Secured to the undersurface of the platform are a plurality of hollow floats 3 shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3. The floats 3 are preferably square in shape in top plan view and each side has a portion that is substantially elliptical in contour in side elevational, tapering outwardly from the top and bottom edge of each side wall, which edges preferably are flattened, to the center line of each side wall which extends parallel to the major axis of the ellipse, with the ends of each ellipse at the center line being substantially pointed.

With such construction each float defines hydro-planes on each of the four sides thereof and offers the minimum resistance to the movement of the barge through, the water.

Each of the floats 3 has a frame 3a mounted on the top surface thereof by means of which the float is secured 3,270,705 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 to the undersurface of the platform. As the floats are hollow, in order to facilitate removal of any water that may leak therein, a suitable plug 9 is secured to a drainage port in the upper part of each float.

In a preferred embodiment the floats 3 are arranged in a square with their corresponding sides parallel and a propeller shaft 5a is centrally mounted in vertical position on the platform and extends therethrough, the shaft having a propeller 5 at the lower end thereof as shown in FIG. 3. The upper end of the shaft 5a has a conventional engine 4 operatively connected thereto and a handwheel 6 is secured to the shaft and can rotate the latter through 360.

The barge in the illustrative embodiment shown carries equipment for effecting cleaning of waste products or removing oil from the surface of a body of water. Such equipment may comprise pumps 10, flexible hose 11, a driven reel 26 for the hose, an extensible boom 25 to position the hose 11 outwardly of the barge, an oil filter 13, conduits 12, 14, a second group of pumps 15, a reversing valve 16, a flush tank 21, settling tanks 22, 23, a collector tank 24, and a pre-filter 20.

As such cleaning and removal equipment forms no part of the present invention, it will not be further described.

In order to retain the barge in fixed position a plurality of anchors are provided. These anchors comprise a heavy hollow shell 7 rectangular in cross section which has pointed feet 7a at each corner to permit the shell to become embedded in the river bottom, for example. The shell has inlets 711 at the top and bottom thereof to permit filling with water when the anchor is lowered. Thus, the anchor will sink rapidly to the river bottom, yet when on the deck of the barge, since the water in the shell will drain through the lower inlet 7b, it will be relatively light in weight and readily movable.

The anchor is moved by means of a winch 8 which carries a cable that extends over a boom 8a and is connected to the upper end of the anchor 7.

The barge also carries a conveyor belt 27 which has ribs or scoops which when the belt 27 is lowered into the water, will remove waste from such water. In addition, the barge carries a platform 28 which can be moved outwardly about a pivotal mount so as to permit a workman to reach otherwise inaccessible positions.

With the arrangement above described, since the propeller is centrally located between the floats and can be rotated 350, it is apparent that merely by rotating the handwheel, in increments, the barge may be moved to either side or forward or backwards without need for turning of the barge.

Since the propeller in each of such 90 incremental movements will exert a back wash that will move between pairs of floats, no turbulence will be created that would reduce maximum propulsion efliciency.

In the event it is desired to move the barge in a direction that is between such incremental 90 positions this may be accomplished by rotating the shaft 5a the desired amount. By reason of the rudder 5b rigid with the propeller shaft 5a, effective steering action is provided.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claim, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A barge comprising a rigid rectangular platform, a

3 plurality of square floats secured to the undersurface of the platform at each of the corners thereof respectively, corresponding sides of said floats extending parallel to each other, each of the side walls of each float being substantially elliptical in contour tapering outwardly from the top and bottom edge of each side wall to the center line of each side wall, said center line extending parallel to the major axes of the ellipse, a propeller shaft extending vertically through said platform and centrally located between said floats, a propeller mounted at the lower end of said shaft on an axis at right angles thereto, a rudder secured to the lower end of the propeller shaft and movable therewith and means to rotate said shaft through an angle of 360.

References Cited by the Examiner MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

R. G. BESHA, T. MAJOR, Assistant Examiners. 

